Railway Bell
Chill bar serving pizzas, burgers & bar classics in a convivial atmosphere with TVs & a patio.
About
Just what London needs - another pub claiming to be a proper local. The Railway Bell in London had me rolling my eyes before I even walked through the door. Another wood-paneled shrine to mediocrity where the beer's lukewarm and the atmosphere's about as authentic as a politician's promise.
Or so I thought.
Look, I've spent enough time in London's pubs to know when I'm being sold a carefully manufactured version of "traditional charm." But somewhere between my third visit to the Railway Bell and now, I've developed what can only be described as a grudging respect for the place. And it pains me to admit this more than you know.
Maybe it was the moment I realized the staff actually remembered my usual order (a rare feat in London these days), or perhaps it was watching them handle a packed Saturday night with the kind of unflappable grace that's becoming extinct in the city's drinking establishments. The Railway Bell manages to pull off that delicate balance between being a proper pub and avoiding the soul-crushing corporate feel that plagues so many London watering holes.
The beer selection, I must confess, is actually decent. They maintain their lines properly - something you'd think would be standard but apparently requires a PhD in some places. The pulls are clean, the pints are properly poured (with actual heads, imagine that), and they rotate their guest ales frequently enough to keep things interesting without turning the tap list into some kind of hipster manifesto.
Their food menu deserves mention, though I was initially prepared to dismiss it as another example of pub grub mediocrity. While it won't be winning Michelin stars anytime soon (thank god - we don't need another gastropub pretender), the kitchen consistently turns out proper comfort food that's several notches above what you'd expect. The Sunday roast, in particular, has become something of a local legend, and rightfully so. The Yorkshire puddings are actually made fresh - not those sad, frozen hockey pucks that many places try to pass off as legitimate.
The beer garden - often a sad afterthought in London pubs - is surprisingly well-maintained. They've managed to create an outdoor space that doesn't feel like you're drinking in a car park, which is apparently a revolutionary concept for some establishments. Even in winter, they've got those heaters that actually work, rather than just serving as decorative props.
What really gets me, though, is the atmosphere. The Railway Bell has somehow achieved that elusive quality of feeling lived-in without being run-down. The wood paneling isn't trying too hard to look authentic - it just is. The leather seats show honest wear rather than artificially distressed patches, and the bar staff have mastered the art of being friendly without that artificial "corporate training manual" enthusiasm.
They've installed screens for sports, but unlike many places that transform into screaming caves of chaos during matches, they've managed to create zones where you can actually hold a conversation without having to communicate in sign language. It's almost as if they considered their customers might have varying interests. Revolutionary, I know.
For those keeping score of practical matters: yes, they take cards (welcome to the 21st century), they're dog-friendly (your four-legged friend will probably get better service than you), and they've got live music that doesn't make you want to puncture your eardrums. The parking situation is typically London (read: challenging), but there's usually street parking if you're willing to circle the block a few times like a vulture.
Look, I didn't want to like the Railway Bell. I really didn't. London's pub scene has burned me too many times with promises of "authentic experiences" that turn out to be about as genuine as a three-pound note. But here I am, regularly frequenting the place like some kind of reformed cynic. The prices are fair for London (which means only mildly eye-watering rather than completely outrageous), and what you get in return actually justifies the cost.
So fine, Railway Bell, you win. You've managed to create something genuinely worth visiting in a city drowning in mediocre pubs. If you're in London and looking for a proper pub that remembers what that actually means, you could do far worse than this place. And trust me, that's not praise I give lightly.
Contact Information
Address
87 George Ln, London E18 1JJ, UK
London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
Phone
+44 20 8989 0229Website
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